Rule-gage



. (No Model.)

s. DIOKINSQ RULE GAGE.

1%. 429,087. Patented May27. 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAM DICKINS, OF IVOLFE CITY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE D. MCOORD,OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

R U L E G A G E SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.429,087, dated May 27, 1890.

Application filed April 26, 1889. Serial No. 308,721. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAM DICKINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at \Volfe City, in the county of Hunt and State of' Texas, haveinvented a new and useful Rule-Gage, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in gages for carpenters rules;and it consists of a gage formed of sheet metal adapted to be detachablyapplied to an ordinary two-foot rule to convert it instantly into agage-rule, all as will be hereinafter described.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a perspective View showingmy device applied to a rule and grasped in the left hand of the operatorready for use. Fig. 2 is a diagram of a blank of sheet metal from whichthe gage may be made; and'Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the gage whenso made of sheet metal.

The same letters of reference are applied to corresponding partsthroughout.

My gage, as illustrated in Fig. 1, is composed of a bottom B, of equalwidth with the ordinary two-foot rule used by carpenters and laborers inwood, and of between two and three inches in length. Along each edge isan upwardly projecting side S, extending above the face of the bottomfrom one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch. At the forward end of thebottom is a thumb-guard T, extending below and to the sides of saidbottom to any desired distance (preferably from one-half tothree-quarters of an inch) and upward above said bottom to points If,flush with the top edges of the sides. The corners being all nicelyrounded off and the guard polished or nickled, it is now ready for use.

The rule R is laid upon the bottom B, fitting closely between the sidesS, and slid therein until the desired distance is measured (in thepresent instance two inches) between the end of the rule and the outerface of the thumb-guard T. The rule and guard are then pinched tightlytogetherin the hand, apencil in the operators right hand pressedagainstthe end of the rule, andthe entire device may be placed on aboard, plank, or beam 0 and moved thereon, resulting in the drawing of astraight line at the desired distance from the edge 0. The thumb-guard Tis pressed close against the edge and the rule upon the face of theboard, and all liability of injury to the hand of the operator fromsplinters, &c., is therefore avoided, since the hand does not touch theboard at all.

I construct my guard of sheet metal bent to the desired shape, asillustrated in Figs. 3 and L. In the blank shown in Fig. 2, in the actof stamping it out, I completely cut on the lines 0, and scored orindented on the lines 3. The guard is afterward completed by bending thesides S up and the thumbguard T down, the bending being on thescore-lines, after which the device will present the appearanceillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3.

My improved gage is small, neat, and serviceable. It may be carried inthe pocket or hung on the wall by an eye I near its rear end. Its useemploys the force of the hand exerted in holding it toretain the guardand rule in relative position, and dispenses with the necessity forset-screws or other clamps or complicated mechanism, which only add tothe cost of such a device without propertionately increasing its value.It may be made and put on the market in quantities, and is adapted foruse in connection with the ordinary rules now employed by carpenters andmechanics, or it may be boxed and sold with such rules, greatlyenhancing the value thereof and increasing their sale.

I claim as the salient points of my invention- The blank for rule gageas herein described, the same comprising a bottom B, two sides S, with aline of scoring 8 between each of them and said bottom, and athumb-guard T at one end of said bottom, with a line of scoring 3 acrossthe end of said bottom between it and the thumb-guard, said blank beingcut on the lines ebetween the upper edges of the thumbguard and theadjacent ends of the sides and between the sides of the bottom and thesides of said upper end tof the thumbguard, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in 7 presence of two witnesses.

- SAM DICKINS. Witnesses:

W. P. MILLs, SAM THOMPSON,

